For CSUN, Little Goes Long Way in 11-7 Victory

When it comes to hitting, it’s quality, not quantity, that counts.

Cal State Northridge was held to seven hits Saturday, but four of them were home runs and the Matadors beat UC Santa Barbara, 11-7, in a nonconference baseball game at Matador Field.

Jason Shanahan, Robert Fick, Josh Smaler and Tyler Nelson homered for the Matadors (8-5), who further emerged from the batting slump that sent them into a five-game losing streak before Friday’s 7-5 victory over the Gauchos.

“I think we have a new attitude,” said Fick, who leads the team with five home runs. “The hitting is contagious, but beyond that our energy level just wasn’t there during the five-game skid.”

Fick’s home run, a two-run shot to left field in the fourth inning, broke a 4-4 tie and gave Northridge a lead it didn’t relinquish. He added a two-out, two-run single in the fifth that pushed the lead to 10-4.

The Matadors still faced some tense moments at the end.

Santa Barbara (5-4) trailed, 11-6, in the eighth, when Northridge Coach Bill Kernen summoned Rob Crabtree from the bullpen for his first relief appearance this season. Crabtree gave up a sacrifice fly to Wynter Phoenix but struck out Tyler Ferrer to escape the inning with a four-run lead.

With one out in the ninth, Crabtree loaded the bases on a walk, a hit batter and a single, but he struck out John Minton and Smaler made a diving catch in center field of Mike Young’s drive to end the game.

Crabtree has been the Matadors’ best starter this season, and Kernen said Saturday’s relief appearance was not a sign that the right-hander was moving to the closer role.

Kernen said Saturday was Crabtree’s scheduled day to throw between starts, so he let him do it in a game instead of in the bullpen. Crabtree will start Wednesday against UCLA at Northridge.

Freshman Carlos Velazco started, but didn’t make it out of the third inning. In 2 1/3 innings, the right-hander from Sylmar walked three and gave up four hits. He was charged with four runs.

In 17 1/3 innings at Northridge, Velazco has walked 17 batters and given up 10 earned runs.

“He definitely has the stuff to be a real good college pitcher, but he has to get command,” Kernen said.

Evan Howland (1-0), who hadn’t pitched since the Matadors’ second game because of a hip problem, pitched five strong innings in relief of Velazco. Howland gave up three runs, but only two hits while striking out six.

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Matador Notes

Northridge assistant David Prosenko had to be taken to the Northridge Hospital Medical Center after being hit in the nose by a wildly thrown baseball during batting practice. Prosenko suffered a broken nose and was scheduled for surgery Saturday evening. . . . Prosenko was standing in left field about an hour before the game when the ball hit him, causing him to bleed profusely. “I needed a new uniform,” joked Prosenko, who returned to the dugout midway through the game.

Pat Treend (1-1), a former pitcher at El Camino Real High, started for UC Santa Barbara and took the loss. He pitched 4 2/3 innings and was charged with 10 runs. . . . The teams combined for 23 walks. Northridge pitchers walked 10, including the leadoff batters in seven innings. . . . Saturday’s game was the third four-home run performance of the season for Northridge.

Zeke Barrios (1-0 with a 4.15 earned-run average) is scheduled to start for Northridge in the final game of the series at 1 p.m. today. Jared Janke (1-0 with an 0.00 ERA in 7 2/3 innings) will start for the Gauchos.